ASEAN Cup 2026: Indonesia Coach Praises Vietnam Team Extravagantly

Coach John Herdman also affirmed that this will be a necessary challenge in the preparation for the long-term goals of Indonesian football (the "Land of a Thousand Islands").

During the training camp in Bali since early July, the English strategist has increased the training volume to help the players achieve optimal condition before entering the regional tournament. According to Coach Herdman, the biggest goal of the Indonesian national team remains qualifying for the World Cup and then being competitive enough at the Asian level. Therefore, the ASEAN Cup 2026 is seen as a crucial opportunity for the team to continue refining their playing style, accumulating experience, and building cohesion.

Commenting on the opponents at the ASEAN Cup 2026, Coach Herdman specifically mentioned the Vietnam national team. He said he has been following the preparation of coach Kim Sang-sik and his players and considers them one of the strongest teams in the region.

According to the English manager, the addition of quality naturalized players to the Vietnam team, along with a string of positive results in recent friendly matches, makes the opponent even more formidable. Coach Herdman said: "I am very excited about this matchup. As far as I know, the Vietnam team has just naturalized three players from Brazil, so they will become a very formidable opponent." Mr. Herdman believes that strong opponents like Vietnam are exactly what Indonesia needs to test their capabilities and continue improving the team ahead of bigger goals. "I also see that they have won four friendly matches before entering the tournament. So, we really need to be challenged. That is our goal in being here," the Indonesia national team coach said.

At the ASEAN Cup 2026, Indonesia is in Group A alongside defending champions Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor Leste. According to the schedule, the Indonesian team will face Cambodia, Timor Leste, Vietnam, and Singapore in that order. The clash between Indonesia and Vietnam on August 3 is predicted to be crucial in the race for the top spot in Group A as well as for a ticket to the semifinals.

With strong investment in the squad and ambitions aimed at the World Cup, Indonesia is considered one of the most formidable contenders, promising to create fierce competition with the Vietnam national team at the ASEAN Cup 2026.